diff --git a/sdks/python/elydora/plugins/grok.py b/sdks/python/elydora/plugins/grok.py
index ce9e0e8..52b1419 100644
--- a/sdks/python/elydora/plugins/grok.py
+++ b/sdks/python/elydora/plugins/grok.py
@@ -215,6 +215,7 @@ def _remove_managed(
             continue
         handlers = group["hooks"]
         kept: List[JsonObject] = []
+        group_changed = False
         for handler in handlers:
             managed_id = _managed_agent_id(handler, script_name)
             remove = managed_id is not None and (
@@ -222,10 +223,13 @@ def _remove_managed(
             )
             if remove:
                 changed = True
+                group_changed = True
             else:
                 kept.append(handler)
-        if kept:
-            result.append(group if len(kept) == len(handlers) else {**group, "hooks": kept})
+        if not group_changed:
+            result.append(group)
+        elif kept:
+            result.append({**group, "hooks": kept})
     return result, changed
 
 
diff --git a/sdks/python/tests/test_grok_plugin.py b/sdks/python/tests/test_grok_plugin.py
index 31314d4..4ac0b3e 100644
--- a/sdks/python/tests/test_grok_plugin.py
+++ b/sdks/python/tests/test_grok_plugin.py
@@ -341,7 +341,7 @@ def test_install_replaces_stale_handlers_for_every_agent(
     assert len(current["hooks"]["PostToolUse"]) == 1
 
 
-def test_uninstall_preserves_untouched_empty_native_event(
+def test_uninstall_preserves_untouched_empty_native_group(
     monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch, tmp_path: Path
 ) -> None:
     fixture = prepare_fixture(
@@ -349,13 +349,17 @@ def test_uninstall_preserves_untouched_empty_native_event(
     )
     fixture.plugin.install(fixture.config)
     settings = json.loads(fixture.config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
-    settings["hooks"]["PreToolUse"] = []
+    settings["hooks"]["PreToolUse"].insert(
+        0, {"hooks": [], "label": "keep empty group"}
+    )
     fixture.config_path.write_text(json.dumps(settings), encoding="utf-8")
 
     fixture.plugin.uninstall(AGENT_ID)
 
     remaining = json.loads(fixture.config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
-    assert remaining["hooks"]["PreToolUse"] == []
+    assert remaining["hooks"]["PreToolUse"] == [
+        {"hooks": [], "label": "keep empty group"}
+    ]
     assert "PostToolUse" not in remaining["hooks"]